Parkland softball players heard the reports on Avon Grove's hard-throwing pitcher Maggie Balint. They knew all about the sophomore's 19-strike out perfect game in the first round of the state playoffs. And they couldn't wait to get in the batters box against her.

Parkland handled everything Balint threw in a 3-0 win in Thursday's state quarterfinal at Souderton High School.

"She's a great pitcher," said Parkland catcher Jordy Augustus. "But I think our coach did a great job preparing for this game. We knew what kind of pitches she was throwing and we knew what to hit and what not to hit."

Augustus reached base on Parkland's first at bat of the game and eventually scored on a Madi Marshall single to centerfield.

"I knew we were anxious to come out and get on this girl," said Parkland pitcher Morgan Rentzheimer. "So it was great we punched one right away."

Parkland got six hits off Balint and put up two more runs in the fifth inning.

Augustus scored for the second time in the game after drawing a one-out walk in the fifth. She stole second and third. An errant throw on the second steal allowed her to score and gave her team a 2-0 lead.

Courtney Miller, who had two hits in the game, kept the inning alive with a two-out single. Miller scored on Marshall's double to deep centerfield, her second RBI-hit of the day.

"I've been pretty quiet in these last couple games," said Marshall. "It's nice to be back and supporting my team."

Trojan pitcher Morgan Rentzheimer didn't need the insurance runs. She held Avon Grove hitless for the first five innings. After a walk in the first inning and a hit batter in the second, Rentzheimer retired 11 straight hitters before giving up a hit to start the sixth inning.

"I just worked fastballs in and out," she said. "I tried to find hitters' weaknesses. And I threw a couple change ups that threw them off. I had great defense behind me."

Rentzheimer didn't pay much attention to the hype about Balint. She focused on her task and performed it nearly perfectly.

"I wouldn't say I'm a strike out pitcher," she said. "I produce ground balls and our defense does a tremendous job making the plays on those. I just have to pitch my game and not compare myself to anyone else. I just have to do what I do best."

The win kept Parkland's undefeated season alive and put the team into Monday's PIAA semifinal against Lower Dauphin, the second-place team out of District 3.